Erie BayHawks forward Mychel Thompson did his best to keep up with how his younger brother fared against the defending NBA champions.

“I couldn’t watch it because it wasn’t on here, but I saw it online,” Thompson said.

Klay Thompson was known for his ability to shoot coming out of Washington State. Now a second-year NBA guard, Thompson has arguably become Golden State’s best player as evidence of his play in Wednesday night’s 97-95 win at Miami.

Thompson had 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and defended three-time NBA MVP LeBron James on the game’s final play. James missed a fading jumper at the buzzer.

On the season, the 6-foot, 7-inch, 205-pound Thompson is averaging 16.4 points for the 15-7 Warriors.

“It’s from putting in a lot of hard work over the summer,” said Thompson about his brother. Their dad is former NBA player Mychal Thompson. “He’s always had the talent. Can shoot. So he worked on other parts of his game. He’s really showing improvement.”

Here’s a quick look at who the Erie BayHawks picked in Friday’s 2012 D-League Draft. The BayHawks drafted Jack McClinton III in the first round. The BayHawks start training camp Nov. 10.

First round — Jack McClinton III (6-1, 185, SG, Miami)Date of birth: Jan. 19, 1985Hometown: Baltimore, Md.Background: Has played overseas the last three years. Averaged 19.3 points his senior year at Miami. McClinton was a second-round pick of the San Antonio Spurs in 2009. Was released on the eve of training camp. Worked out for the defending NBA champion Miami Heat this season.

LeBron James came to Miami to do what he did Thursday night, win an NBA title./AP Photo.

Hugging the world championship trophy, LeBron James was all smiles Thursday night.

James can finally claim an NBA title as his own./AP Photo.

He earned that elated feeling.

“It’s about damn time,” James said.

The one who waited nine years to win an NBA title no longer has to do so.

LeBron James can now be called a champion after leading the Miami Heat to an NBA title. The Heat sealed the finals series, 4-1, by winning Game 5 in dominant fashion, 121-106, against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Arena.

This journey truly began the night of his greatest individual playoff performance – May 31, 2007, Game 5, Eastern Conference Finals, The Palace, Auburn Hills, Mich.

With the series tied 2-2, James willed the Cleveland Cavaliers to an 109-107 double-overtime win against the Detroit Pistons by scoring 48 points. He scored Cleveland’s final 25 points.

It’s the best playoff performance I’ve ever seen in person. It was so good, Michael Jordan came out and praised James for his play.

On Monday, the Erie BayHawks added forward Frank Hassell, a 6-9, 246-pound power forward who averaged 10.1 points and 7.8 rebounds in 20 games for the expansion Canton Charge.

From Chesapeake, Va., Hassell had played overseas in Turkey before the San Antonio Spurs invited him to training camp. Hassell, who played at the same high school as former NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning in Indian River, was the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament MVP while playing at Old Dominion.

The BayHawks got Hassell, 23, in a trade when they acquired Sharrod Ford out of the D-League player pool and traded him to Canton for Hassell. From Suitland, Md., Ford, 30, played for the Phoenix Suns in 2005-06 after playing college ball at Clemson.

Ford also played professional in Turkey, Russia and Italy. He averaged 15.8 points and 10.4 rebounds in 2010-11 with Sutor Montegranaro in Italy.

Germany's Dirk Nowitzki has always been a scorer (Avg. 23 PPG in 13 NBA seasons), but being a more complete player has turned him into an even tougher cover./AP Photo.

Dirk Nowitzki is not better than LeBron James. He’s just been playing better in the playoffs. At least that’s what everyone is saying.

All we hear now is how Nowitzki has become this unstoppable player.

Hello?

Dirk has always been a tough cover. The difference is he’s finding teammates so he’s making opponents pay for however they guard him.

Making his second trip to the NBA Finals, the 7-footer, one-legged shot maker with range from El Paso is one of the five keys to the series. If he can force Miami to have to double team him, that opens up the entire Dallas offense.

Here are other four keys for Dallas in the finals, which begins Tuesday at 9 p.m. in Miami.

1. We wont 4Get you LeBron James
2. BETRAYED (Kids with t-shirts with the letter of each word)
3. Took
No
Talent
To South Beach (TNT)
4. Lyin King
5. You’re only a prince in Wade’s Country
6. 11-8: Looks like you left your talents in Cleveland
7. LeBron went South and Gloria is riding West
8. Merry Quitness